GENEROSITY OF THE LION.

"I HAVE been assured," says Chenier, in his Present State of Morocco, "that a Brebe, who went to hunt the lion, having proceeded far into a forest, happened to meet with two lion's whelps, which came to caress him. The hunter stopped with the little animals, and, waiting for the coming of the sire or dam, took out his breakfast and gave them a part. The lioness arrived unperceived by the huntsman, so that he had neither time or courage to take his gun. After having some time looked at the man, who was feeding her young, she went away, and soon after returned with a sheep, which she brought and laid at the huntsman's feet.

"The Brebe thus become one of the family, took the occasion of making a good meal, skinned the sheep, roasted part, and gave part to the young. The lion in

his turn came also; and, as if respecting the rites of hospitality, showed no signs of ferocity. Their guest, the next day, having finished his provisions, returned, and came to a resolution never more to kill any of these noble animals, the generosity of which he had so fully proved. He caressed the whelps on taking leave of them, and the lion and lioness accompanied him until he was safely out of the forest."

Many other examples are recorded of the generosity of this animal. The keeper of the museum of beasts in the Tower of London, once fell asleep beneath the paws of the lion after having sported with him some time, while some repairs were going on in his cell. When found by his friends, the lion and himself were both asleep, with one foreleg of the lion over the keeper's breast. The alarm was immediately given; but the keeper, being aroused as well as the lion at the noise, took leave of his companion, having received no injury.

LITERARY NOTICE.

SUPPOSE we saw a company of somnambulists walking and sporting on the crumbling edge of a tremendous precipice, unconscious of danger, and full of mirth and glee; should no efforts be made to rescue them, though at the expense of disturbing their gay dreams? Now if, the Heathen are dreaming away their probation on the brink of perdition; the heart of Christian charity ought to throb in view of their circumstances, and the hand of benevolence ought to be instantly opened and extended to rescue them. In a Sermon delivered before the Foreign Mission Society of Boston and the Vicinity, at their annual meeting, Jan. 1, 1824, by Rev. Mr. Wisner, of the Old South, the preacher has fearlessly taken the ground, that Heathen nations, whether ancient or modern, are collectively obnoxious to ETERNAL DEATH, the righteous penalty of God's law against all sin. He adduces a number of arguments from Paul's language, and follows these with an appeal to the Apostle's conduct. We shall here extract a few sentences in the writer's usual nervous style. After enumerating Saint Paul's efforts, sacrifices, perils, and sufferings to extend Christianity among the Gentiles, he adds, "Now I ask whence these painful sacrifices, this unceasing effort, in a man of judgment and discretion ?-in a man excited and directed, in all his plans and exertions to spread the Gospel by the Spirit of God? Did he consider the Heathen in no danger? Ah! no. His eye, lighted by inspiration, beheld them sinking, to endless woe, as fast as, from among them, death multiplied his victims. His benevolent soul was moved at the sight, and he determined, at all hazards, to endeavor to save some.' With the unparalleled sufferings which awaited him full in his view, you hear him say, None of these things move me; neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry I have received to testify, among the Gentiles, the Gospel of the grace of God. The love of Christ constraineth me; because I thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all DEAD.' That was the judgment from

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which his self-denying exertions to spread the Gospel among the Heathen sprung; he judged that they were all'dead in trespasses and sins,' and exposed to eternal death!"

By an able and extended appeal to Scripture testimony and recent facts, Mr. Wisner then exhibits the dark shades of moral degradation which hang over both ancient and modern Pagans, and proves the Heathen deserving of condemnation. After this he introduces an objector as asking whether he means to assert that none who live and die in Pagan lands will be saved, and replies

"I do not. I am willing to admit the possibility that there may be some, even in those regions of midnight darkness, so far enlightened by the spirit of God, as to be sensible of their guilt and need of a propitiation for their sins, and to trust in the divine mercy to provide such a propitiation, and for its sake to forgive and save them. But that those who die in the guilt and pollution of Heathenism, are lost, the investigation to which we have been attending compels me to believe." The preacher then remarks that this was equally true 18 centuries ago, but that neither then nor now does it afford any excuse for indolence respecting the spread of the Gospel, the only and the sovereign remedy for their circumstances collectively.

We must conclude the mere glance we have taken of this subject, by expressing our hope that the circulation of this elaborate Discourse may impel thousands ONWARD in their labours of love in behalf of perishing Pagans,-and by extracting the impressive appeal with which it concludes.

"I stand before you then, in the name of a Society which has for its object the sending of the blessed Gospel to every nation and kindred and tongue and people' who need it, to solicit your aid in the benevolent, the godlike work. You see what is the condition, and what are the prospects of those for whom I plead; the condition and the prospects of hundreds of millions of your fellow-men, of your brethren, of immortal beings like yourselves. You behold them sunk in degradation and wretchedness; you see them hastening, as fast

as the stream of time can carry them, to an eternity of woe! In the name of benevolence, in the name of philanthropy, I call upon you to contribute to their relief. I call upon you to contribute liberally and promptly; for, behold! while I address you, hundreds of these your brethren are closing their probation and sinking to endless despair! Are you then actuated by the principles of benevolence? Have you the feelings of humanity? I wait for your reply."

ELEGANT EXTRACTS.

We are happy in the opportunity of presenting to our readers a confirmation of the same general views of the circumstances of the Heathen, from an interesting and eloquent sermon by Rev. Mr. Whelpley of New York, preached before the United Foreign Missionary Society in May last.

"Such, brethren, is the moral state of the Heathen, that they must perish, unless they can receive remission of sin's," through faith in Jesus Christ." Of the Heathen, who live under the light of the gospel, this is fearfully true, for-as our LORD says-without that remission they must perish under a deep condemnation, because they sin against greater light and privilege. And it is equally true of the Heathen far away, who never heard the name of Christ.-They must perish, if we do not send them the gospel. If I did not believe this, I should esteem it a mockery indeed—a prostitution of speech and of reason, on an occasion like this, to stand up and plead their cause ;-for if there be any other way in which they can be saved than “through faith that is in Jesus Christ," I should at once dismiss my fears for you, my hearers, and care little-very little, whether my own soul passed into its eternal state, from amidst the gloom of Paganism or from the bosom of Christanity. ***

Look over the Heathen world. See what moral death and desolation reigns! No star of Bethlehem leads them-no "day-spring from on high" visits them :-the throne of the prince of darkness is there :

thousands and millions are still his slaves :-generation after generation pour down the stream of time, and rush over the verge into eternity's vast abyss! ***

Whatever the panegyrists of Attic politeness and of Roman honour may say, it is yet true, that without the light of revelation, no people or nation under heaven has ever been civilized; and we may readily believe, that without it no nation,can ever be truly civilized. Well may we compare our state of society with that of the western Indians, for example, and attribute the amazing difference to the meliorating power of the religion of Jesus Christ. Now, to gratify the wildness of his temper and gain his sustenance, the savage roams from the cabin to the river, and from the river to the mountain. We would teach him to build a house and cultivate his fields. Now, it is his highest ambition to kill his enemy in battle nnd drink his blood, or to deprecate the wrath of the Great Spirit by abominable rites. We would teach him to love his enemies, and to worship his God in spirit and in truth. Now, he passes through life without any solid comfort, and dies without any rational hope, and awakes in a world of deepest darkness. We would teach him to appreciate the blessedness and comforts of existence ;-would sustain his dying hour with the consolations of piety; and by the grace of the gospel, enable him to say, in view of a happy immortality, "Lord Jesus receive my spirit."

REV. R. WIlbur,

[For the Monitor.]

Sir-You have expressed a wish to receive communications from Clergymen who have established Bible Classes among the youth under their charge, relative to the existing state, regulations, effects, and prospects of those invaluable associations. Though it is not in my power to say much, yet with the hope of provoking others to say more, I cheerfully comply with your repeated suggestions in the Monitor.

The Bible Class in my parish was formed in the course of the last summer. Its subscribing members have not exceeded fifty-three. A larger number would doubtless